DC on a Shoestring

The National Zoo in DC is one of the country’s finest zoos. And it’s FREE! No admission! The fact that it is run by The Smithsonian Institute should say it all. Everything they do is top notch. If you can find free parking on a nearby side street near the zoo, all the better, otherwise you’ll have to pay to park in their parking lots. You can take your own lunch and beverages and really save some bucks. The park has a very nice outdoor eating area near the food court where you can easily have a nice leisurely picnic lunch. This zoo is large enough to take up your entire day. Of course the panda bears are a must see and the folks at the zoo have done a great job of adding many vantage points from which you can view them. No more cramming into a squeezed viewing area to catch a glimpse. You can view them from above along a very well designed trail overlooking their habitat. Of course, everyone loves the elephants and the monkeys and the small mammal house has a great selection of exotic creatures.

Of course the other thing to do in DC is the monument tour. I prefer to do this on foot without any of the guided tours that are available. It allows you to spend as much or as little time at a spot that you want to. While in the area of the Mall and the Washington Monument we stopped at the new National Aquarium. It’s located directly across from the Ronald Reagan Building in the lower level of the Commerce Department. The admission was $7 and the aquarium was actually better that I expected. This is not the Atlanta Aquarium or the National Aquarium in Baltimore by any stretch. It is a very interesting way to spend an hour or two while doing a walking tour. All in all I think it was worth the price of admission. It really shined a light on the incredible value it is to go to the zoo for free.

When we’re in DC we usually eat at Trio located at the corner of Q Street and 17th. The food is always good and not priced too high. Four of us ate a late lunch for around $50. It’s more of a neighborhood spot than a tourist trap so you escape the overpriced menu of many spots near the monuments.

DC can be a very expensive destination but there are many things to do there that a very reasonably priced. You can make this a day trip or better yet, book a cheap room online and stay for the weekend.

One last tip, DC can be very tricky to navigate. If you’re not comfortable driving, the Metro subway system is a great alternative. It’s clean and safe and very affordable. There are stops near most of the major attractions in town including the Zoo. If you prefer there are many Park and Ride locations located well outside of the city congestion. Park there and let the Metro do the driving.